Rescue support apparatus

• US 5,644,294 A
• Filed: 08/13/1996
• Issued: 07/01/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ronald J. Ness
• Original Assignee: Ronald J. Ness
• Inventors: Ness, Ronald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): LA, ANH V
• Application Number:
  US08/696,302
• Time in Patent Office: 322 Days
• Field of Search: 340/540, 340/521, 340/691, 340/573, 340/628, 340/629, 340/630, 340/690, 340/567, 340/571, 340/632, 340/634, 340/331, 206/803, 206/570, 206/573
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/01 Measuring or predicting earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/10 responsive to calamitous events, e.g. tornados or earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/00 in human health protection, e.g. against extreme weather

Abstract

A disaster support apparatus provides a compact enclosure within which a power supply energizes a circuit providing emergency lighting, radio wave and audible beacons activated by violent earthquake motion, a low level illumination for those attempting to find the apparatus in case of a flood or cave-in, a series of prerecorded medical advice statements activated at the press of a selector switch, a radio receiver, air sampling sensors, tied into the audible alarm, and storage capacity for medical and sustenance supplies and other equipment. The unit provides a wall attachment feature for mounting the unit in its standby mode, but the unit may be removed for portable use.

Claims

1. A disaster support apparatus providing:

an enclosure, and in the enclosure;

a circuit providing, in operational interconnection, a primary means for illumination;

an auxiliary means for illumination;

a means for sensing an ambient lighting level;

a means for detecting motion of the enclosure;

a means for air monitoring;

a means for sensing motion of objects near the apparatus;

an audible alarm means;

a means for wave energy wireless signal propagation;

a means for wave energy wireless signal reception;

a means for audible presentation of recorded medical advice;

a portable means for providing electrical power to the circuit for operation thereof, and;

a microprocessor adapted to control the circuit such that with the ambient lighting level below a designated level as determined by the ambient lighting level sensing means, and with a sensing of an object near the apparatus, the auxiliary illumination means is energized, and further, with a gas level of a selected gas detected above a designated level by the air monitoring means, or with a motion of the apparatus, having a magnitude above a designated level, being sensed by the enclosure motion sensing means, or with smoke being detected by the air monitoring means, an audible alarm is produced by the audible alarm means, and a wave energy alarm signal is transmitted;

and the apparatus further including a means for storing medical and sustenance supplies;

and a garb means for excluding poisonous gases during breathing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the audio alarm means includes a loudspeaker.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for sensing the ambient lighting level includes a photosensor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for air sampling includes at least a carbon monoxide sensitive detector, and a smoke sensitive detector.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for motion detection of the apparatus includes a motion sensitive switch means.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for illumination includes a relatively bright primary lighting means and a relatively subdued auxiliary lighting means.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the supplies include bandages, gauze pads, tape, scissors first aid cream, pain reduction pills, salt pills, water purification pills, water, food bars, dried meat stuffs, concentrated food tablets, toilet paper, spare batteries, and at least one insulating blanket with radiation reflecting surface.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power means includes a rechargeable battery and an adapter/charger for accepting alternating current and maintaining a full charge in the battery.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for wave energy wireless signal propagation generates a locator beacon intermittent pulse output of such magnitude and frequency as to be detectable at least 100 miles from the apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the enclosure includes a pair of integral spaced apart handles, and a mounting aperture means formed in the case for hanging the apparatus on a support means and further includes a space for storing the supplies.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a phosphorescent layer adjacent to the primary means for illumination, the phosphorescent layer being activated by ambient light and light from the primary illumination means.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the enclosure further includes a cavity for mounting the primary and secondary lighting means and the phosphorescent layer, the cavity covered by a transparent cover of a tough material.